Accident
Accidents were the leading cause of death in the CSI:D sample, and drowning was the leading cause of death among mortal accidents. There are myriad reasons why. Broad swaths of the American public did not know how to swim. Primary modes of transportation, especially early in the century, involved river routes. Mill ponds were prevalent. Children played outside—generally a good thing but occasionally a sad one. Perhaps the saddest of these incidents involved a mass May Day drowning at Boykin Mill Pond in 1860. Twenty-eight teenagers set off on a raft that hit a snag and more than twenty-five drowned, including all five children from one family. Sadder still may be the case of Noah Wesley Dawkins. In mid-June 1888, Dawkins and his friends, all African Americans, set off for a local watering hole where they ran into three white boys, one of whom offered Dawkins fifty cents if he would walk into a particular area in the creek, assuring him it wasn’t deep. It was deep, and Dawkins drowned. It is tempting to classify this as a homicide, but it is clear from testimony that the white children thought they were playing a cruel trick, not a deadly one.
Alcohol was such a critical indirect cause in so many of the accidental drownings, shootings, fires, and falls in CSI:D that it really ought to be regarded the deadliest force in nineteenth century South Carolina. In addition to these indirect roles, alcohol was the direct cause of accidental death in more than sixty cases. It was probably also a direct cause in many of the ‘exposure’ cases—bodies that were discovered outside and were thought to have died from exposure to the elements.
Nineteenth century law enforcement had no recourse to blood-alcohol tests. Even today, determining precise BACs postmortem, and working back from those to levels of inebriation at time of death, is fraught with difficulty. This meant that nineteenth-century coroners had to rely exclusively on witness testimony and the known habits of the deceased to determine alcohol’s role in producing death. Standing around a dead man, jurors found themselves passing judgment on just how drunk he had been the night before. According to witnesses, John Goodlett “seemed to be drunk.” John Agner was “sorry he was drunk.” Abe Waganan was “very funny & lively”—very drunk as [was] his custom.” Is ‘very drunk’ drop-dead drunk? It is hard to know. On the night of January 15, 1816, Angus McQueen drank more than half a gallon of spirits. “The dec’d was very much intoxicated,” noted one witness, “and fell down four times during which time he vomited upon the carpet.” Because McQueen kept getting up and falling down, the jurors determined that the falls (and the winter cold) contributed to his demise, though it is equally possible that McQueen died of alcohol poisoning. Juries were more likely to fix upon ‘intemperance’ as a clear cause of death if the deceased was a notorious addict. In December 1842, H. P. Church was discovered by his land-lady sprawled half on and half off of his bed. A “habitual drunkard” who had been continuously drinking for two weeks, she did not even bother to try and shake him awake. The inquest did not hesitate in finding that Church had died of intoxication.
The third leading cause of accidental deaths were ‘vehicular’ accidents, a catch-all category that includes drunken falls from a train and sober buckings from a horse. Further complicating this picture is the fact that many of the drownings probably belong in this category. There is little difference between falling unwitnessed off of a train and off of a boat, except that in one case you land on tracks and are quickly found where in the other you wash downstream, far from the site of the accident.
Bartholomew Darby was thrown from the saddle and hit his head on a stump, his wagon then “running over his head ... & breaking his neck & deeply cutting him under the right ear.” Steve Yeldell fell out of his cart and broke his neck.
All such accidents pale in comparison to the staggering mortality brought to South Carolina by train. Richard Springs was “run over by a train.” Fannie Ford was “run over by a train.”A slave named Sam was “Run over by [a] train.” Almost as soon as trains arrived in these counties, there were sots to fall off of them, laborers to be crushed by them, and depressives to jump in front of them. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a technological innovation responsible for a sharper uptick in the per capita death rate. It is also clear that coroners and inquest juries were unprepared for the level of bodily violence meted out by train. The body of a slave named Berry was “very much mashed and limbs and bones severed.” William Abbott’s body was “mangled, bruised, cut and crushed.” Even so coroners and their juries were often at pains to absolve the railroad itself of any wrong-doing. Hosea Jackson “came to his death by his own carelessness and from no carelessness whatever on the part of the engineer.” The crushing of William Roberts was likewise “not caused by any dereliction of duty on the part of the rail-road employees.” With train accidents we see for the first time the question of corporate responsibility, and potential corporate liability, creeping into the inquest process.
The larger point, however, is a physical one. Moving the body at a faster speed than the body was designed to go is an enormous convenience that has to be paid for. Today vehicular accidents (car, motorcycle, and all-terrain-vehicle) are the fourth-leading cause of death among Americans after heart disease, cancer, and stroke. The nineteenth century was not particularly different, except that families moved by horse, wagon, and train—and died less often of cancer.
The fourth leading cause of accidental death in the CSI:D sample involved the discharge of firearms. Some were simple cases of men who were cleaning or handling weapons that suddenly went off. The vast majority of cases, however, involve an unfortunate bystander. In 1849, Tilman Attaway was mistaken for a turkey by his hunting buddy. In 1808, James Spradley was leaning in to watch two dogs fight over a dead deer. Fourteen-year old George Nettles sought to break up the dogs by bashing one of them with the butt of his gun. Instead the gun discharged into Spradley’s face. As this case attests, guns and children made as disastrous a pairing then as they do now. In 1820 ten-year old Mancel King accidentally shot and killed his brother. In 1899 ten-year old John McManus shot and killed his friend. “I was fooling with the pistol and it went off,” he told the inquest.
Undoubtedly some of these gun-related ‘accidents’ were not accidents at all. A dead man alone in a room might have been cleaning his gun, or he might have harbored hidden miseries. Similarly some of the accidental misfires on bystanders were probably intentional homicides. Unless new evidence emerges at this late date, however, such cases will have to remain categorized as accidents.
The fifth leading cause of death by accident in the CSI:D sample was death by suffocation—another category that speaks more to what a coroner was called to investigate than to what people actually died from. A majority of the ‘smothering’ deaths were probably SIDS victims. In white households such cases would not have been investigated—infant mortality was relatively high in the period and a white family’s ‘dear pledges’ were often ‘recalled to God.’ But in a society where every enslaved child was as potentially valuable as a Lexus, infant death in the quarter was more rigorously investigated. Coupled with deep prejudices against enslaved mothers, inquests typically found that an unnamed “negro Child” was “negligently Smothered” by its mother, or that the enslaved child Lora was “accidentally smothered” in the family bed, or that the enslaved children Henry and Alcy were crushed in the night, having being “overlaid” by their parents. It is possible that such ‘negligence’ did occur among overworked and overtired slaves, and such findings were far preferable to those cases where enslaved parents were charged with infanticide.
The sixth leading cause of death by accident in the CSI:D sample was death by fire. Most homes in the period were made of wood. Most had fireplaces. None had a fire extinguisher. Fire was light and life, but it was also occasionally death. In 1866 a freedman named Sloan was burnt to death in a gin house. In 1890 a child named Julia Hightower wandered too close to the family fireplace. Her younger sister tried to dowse her with water to no avail.
These six types of accidental death—drowning, alcohol abuse, transportation mishaps, gun miscues, suffocations, and fires—account for 75% of the accidental deaths in the CSI:D sample. Other relatively common accidents involved falling trees and limbs, industrial accidents, and poisonings and overdoses. Rounding out the sample were accidents that were more unique. Home alone, Medora Williams had an epileptic seizure and fell into her own fireplace. Traveling with the Bailey & Company circus, George West was gored by his own elephant. (Some might not consider this an ‘accident’ since the elephant had ‘cause’; and acted with ‘intent.’)
NEXT: Natural Causes
Accident Inquests
Name | Deceased Description | Date | Inquest Location | Death Method | Inquest Finding |
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Richard J. Barton | December 28, 1866 | at Mrs Lucinda Bartons, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the aforesaid R.J. Barton came to his death by the accidental discharg of a Gun in his own hands |
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slave | slave | December 4, 1852 | at the plantation known as Stockton's, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that he came to his death by his appearance from privation and exposure |
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Abram McJunkin | March 14, 1867 | at the [??], Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say . . .by drowning came to his death by accident |
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Eva Tucker | May 29, 1894 | at R. P. Tucker's place, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that the said Eva Tucker came to her death from an accidental pistol shot wound in the hands of Wm M Chappell, inflicted on or about the 27th of April 1894 |
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Infant of George and Ann Crawford | Infant of George and Ann Crawford | May 8, 1906 | At G A S[??]cers, Chesterfield County, SC |
Upon their oaths, do say: By strangulation the cause of which is unknown to Jury |
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Lora | slave | January 6, 1852 | at Gerrymiah Gregory's, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that . . .the child Lora she was accidently smothered by its mother |
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Julia Whalan | July 19, 1882 | at RH Young Plantation, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Julia Whalan came to her death by accidental drowning in a pool of water |
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Ora Weaver | February 21, 1891 | at the plantation of D B. H Holfarth[illegible - ink blot], Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Ara Weaver came to her death from accidental Burning |
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John Davis | September 6, 1859 | at Jas. H. Parks, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say - That he came to his death by misfortune and accident by a plate falling struck him on the head about 1 o cl'k on the 5th Inst. Which caused his death in about six hours. |
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John Stafford | December 16, 1831 | Spartanburg County, SC |
do say upon their oaths he came to his death by accidentally drowning in a state of intoxication |
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Ransom Hinton | March 29, 1872 | at Purvis' Bridge, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That Ransom Hinton caem to his death by being accidently drowned near Purvis' Bridge, across Thompson's Creek on or about 26th day of March AD 1872 |
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Robert Anderson | January 31, 1825 | at the camp near the Wateree Canal, Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that the said Robert Anderson came to his death by a gun going accidentally off as William Forten was laying it up, the cock of said gun striking against the place where it was to be laid, which caused it to go off and the load was lodged in the neck of said Robert Anderson |
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Jeff Bird | January 8, 1878 | at G.B. Pettigrews', Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say the deceased came to his death by the accidental discharge of a gun |
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Jim Rice | on James Jones' place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon there oaths do "say" that Jim Rice in manner and form aforesaid caem to his death by a bucket fallin acidently on his head while walking in a well |
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Smith | June 9, 1876 | near R. H. Anderson's Tanyard, Anderson County, SC |
do say that . . .the said Smith was accidentally drowned in a race dith; that is to say the said Smith in manner and form aforesaid, came to his death by misfortune or accident. |
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George | May 6, 1849 | at C... Garlington Mill pond, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do Say by accidental drowning. |
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Lidia Watson | January 26, 1894 | at J E Macks, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that the aforesaid Lidia Watson came to her death from accidental burning |
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William Godfrey | October 19, 1873 | near Leaterwood's Mills, Spartanburg County, SC |
open [sic] their oaths do say that [deceased] did fall into a gully and being unable to get out did then and there die |
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Charles | negro male slave, boy | September 20, 1827 | at David Johnsons, Union County, SC |
say upon our oaths that from the testimony before us we do believe that the aforesaid Charles was drowned in Big[? Broad?] River by Misfortune |
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Toney Moore | November 29, 1865 | at Conwayboro, Horry County, SC |
upon their oaths do say That the said Toney Moore came to his death by Mischance from the accidental explosion of a Steam Boiler |
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Henry | negro man | June 3, 1849 | at the house of Mrs Mary Harrison, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Henry came to his death by injuries received in falling in & against the bank of a branch or deep gully while running from a patroll |
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William McKagen | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
James A. Hugans | November 20, 1903 | at J. A. Hugans, Chesterfield County, SC |
AND so the said Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do say that the aforesaid James A. Hoagan Came to his death By Accidential Burning. |
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Thomas Davis | March 30, 1884 | at John Davis, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Thomas Davis came to his death by misfortune or accident |
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Mattie Brown | March 30, 1880 | on plantation of Mrs. Frances Yongue, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the same Hattie & Mattie Brown in manner and form aforesaid came to their deaths by misfortune, the assistance of fire on March 29th, 1880. |
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Samuel McCulley | December 29, 1839 | in Broadway Creek, Anderson County, SC |
do say that sd, Samuel McCulley on the 28th day of December 1839 was found dead in Broadway Creek . . . and had no marks of violence on him and died of the [?] of God partly by intemperance partly by cold and partly by drowning |
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Crispan Smith | December 5, 1836 | at the house of George Smith, Union County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that he died by the visitation of god in a natural way by accidentaly getting frozen to death |
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Dan Richardson | June 28, 1890 | at T.J. Sullivans Residence, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that Dave Richardson came to his death from the inhalation of poisonous gas in a well on the premises of T.J. Sullivan |
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Dick | male slave | July 13, 1859 | at Ted Scurrys residence, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say. . .that he came to his death by going in to the Saluda River and got in Deep water an drowned |
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Lesthia Ridlehouse[Ridlehover?] | January 5, 1892 | at the Residence of Mrs Edny Mary, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say by being accidenttly burned to death |
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John Harry | February 2, 1827 | at the House of John Harry, Laurens County, SC |
Do say upon their oathes that they are of opinion that the deceased came to his death by falling from his hors [sic] when he was driving his waggon in his own plantation |
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Samuel F. Evans Sr. | January 23, 1878 | at Chesterfield C. H., Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say That the Said Samuel F. Evans Sr. came to his death by accidental burning |
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H. McKnight | April 14, 1842 | at the house of Thomas Tegues, Esq in the Town of Camden ... upon the view of the dead body of Henry McKnight who was found dead in the Wateree River near the bank of said river & raised by means of a hoop, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Henry McKnight came to his death by the visitation of God having fallen into the river supposed to have been in a fit and alone |
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infant of Sam Coleman | at the residence of Sam Coleman, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oath do say that they believe the infant of Sam Coleman came to its death by asphyxia |
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John Thomas | October 6, 1852 | at Line Creek, Greenville County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that they think he much intoxicated, and in attempting to crop[?] the River fell off on a rock under the Bridge broke his skull and so stunned him that he was immediately drowned |
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William White | December 10, 1898 | at Savanah River, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say, That the deceased William White came to his death by accidental drowning |
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John Strange | May 10, 1826 | at Rocky Mount Ferry on the Catawba River, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths the the said John Strange being in a state of intoxication on attempting to swim across the aforesaid river was unfortunately drowned |
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Jackson Byars | December 13, 1877 | at Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Jackson Byars came to his death beside the Mills Gap Road nine miles from Spartanburg C.H. in the County and State aforesaid ... from appoplexy or effusion of blood upon the brain |
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Unknown Unknown | February 16, 1923 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that he came to his death from cold & exposure |
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Griffin | Infant Childe | December 26, 1860 | at Andy [?], Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say the child come it death by accident or mischance by smuthering or some way unknown |
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Emma Williams | January 8, 1894 | at J.O.C. Fleming's mill, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Emma Williams came to her death By accident, having been caught in the machinery of the mill. |
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Lewis | negro man | March 20, 1846 | at & in the Revd Mr. Brooks Plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say, that, he decd . . .the said Boy came to his death by & exposure to extreme hunger & Cold |
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John Hester | May 13, 1846 | at Hamburg in the shop of J.J. Kenedy, Edgefield County, SC |
Upon their Oaths do say, He died in the said shop . . .while working at the bench in a fit . . .came to his death by misfortune or visitation of God |
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Ed Glover | July 8, 1882 | at Poore House, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oathes do say He Came to his Death by and from the affects produced by a gun shot wound inflicted by Samuel Garner in the Calf of his right leg |
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Nettie Mae Bennett | November 9, 1937 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Nettie Mae Bennett received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by shot gun in the hands in the hands of Derk Gardin (accidental) |
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William Johnson | January 20, 1871 | at William Johnson's residence in Camden, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said William Johnson came to his death ... from a sudden attack of illness occasioned by his having eaten oysters which were probably tainted |
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James Spradley | August 19, 1808 | near Sander's Creek, Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that ... the said James Spradley happening to be close behind the said George Nettles looking at the dogs afighting received the contents of the said gun consisting of a load of powder and buck shot in his forehead just over his left eye which shot shot away a considerable part of his skull and brains [and] in one hour after his receiving the said wound, [he] died of the same |
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Joe Alexander Ryan | October 24, 1912 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that he came to his death in an accidental fall in the arms of his mother |
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Robert Burns | February 3, 1873 | at Alston, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that he came to his death by axidental Drowning |
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Thomas Thompson | at Capt. Manus' place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Thomas Thompson came to his death from the affect of a burn caused by falling in the fire[.] |